S-Clarke

1 of many.

Fair enough I guess. A loyal lad!

Very strong Italian source, who broke the Ramirez deal in the summer.

To be honest, this is following exactly the same lines as the Ramirez deal. There's only 1 winner here, and it's us. They need the money, we're the only club offering the money, and the players wants to join. They can try and haggle but at the end of the day, they'll accept what we offer at the end of the day. It's all playing the game as well, happens all over the world during every transfer window. Quite fun really.

Didn't really happen for him there did it? Shame. If I'm honest he's a squad player at Championship level, no more than that. Probably a starter for a lower championship side.

Doubt we'd make such a radical change at this stage, and also as the current tactical setup seems to be working much better.

Agreed. We'd look pretty good in CB if this guy comes. 2 Internationals in Astori and Yoshida, and 2 solid pro's in Fonte and Jos. Not really going to get a better 4 CB's for a club in our position.

Immediately, neither. But I think he'd probably replace Yoshida when the opportunity arose. I think Fonte is a massive part of the spine, and has been for the last 3 years - obviously he's captain as well. So if any of the CB's were to be dropped, Yoshida is probably the first one. Harsh, I agree - which Is why I don't think he'll walk into the team straight away. (if we get him, obviously)

Thought that was the case. We're too slow as a nation when it comes to identifying these cross-nationality players. He'd walk into the national team at the mo.

Good old Nicola driving a hard bargain, as usual.

Jeez, for a player of his ability that's a bloody decent club to find yourself at.

Ah, very handy player. Good signing for Spurs. What's the deal with him anyway? He's a german international isn't he? but has an english parent?

Don't even joke! Christ, that would be awful. But to be honest, I reckon we'll have a decent 2nd half and be more comfortable than people anticipate.

Oh Christ, I totally agree. We're completely rubbish. I mean, look at the complete panic buy of Ramirez. The rushed, end of transfer window deal for Rodriguez. The last minuite deadline day deal for Steven Davis. I totally agree, we're awful. We didn't need any of those players.

Nah, to be fair he was allowed to use a fair chunk of the fee from Bilyaledinov. They have a sell before you buy policy. By selling Rodwell in the summer it freed up the money and wages for Pienaar and Mirallas.

Wow, they are desperate. He is turd with a capital T.

He's a real player, but a very odd mentality. Which is why clubs always seem to let him go. I remember him at Porto though, unplayable at times. He's never really discovered his Porto form elsewhere.

Whops @ that trousers. Imagine he's got confused with Jacob Butterfield!

There is talk of Gazza being sent to Birmingham on loan as part of the deal. Does make me question the Gazza deal if I'm honest, slightly. We clearly wanted Butland in the summer, when it came apparent we couldn't sign him we looked for another good young keeper instead. I think we'd have been a bit more sensible getting in an experienced head, and then trying in January for Butland - as we're doing anyway.

I think he'll be a very good keeper, but he doesn't feel right for me at the moment. If he does sign, I hope he goes on and becomes our number 1 for years and answers all our questions, but it just feels - in our situation at the mo - a real gamble in an area which we've already gambled on twice.

He's always been a bit silly, but it never ceases to amaze me at how ignorant people still are to our current situation. I'm not asking the media to be experts on every single aspect of the club, but for christ sake it doesn't take much research to work out that we're no longer in administration, we've broken our transfer record twice in one season, are spending £15m on a training ground, and £30m+ on players. That's open knowledge, and it's just lazy comments by people in the media. It's not just him either, heard other pundits saying it'll be difficult for us - compared to QPR!!!! - because we don't have the finance.

You're right, football fans are funny creatures. These comments are probably at the heat of the moment after he'd made the error anyway, which clouds any previous good stuff he's done. Interestingly, only 2 days ago, he was being talked up as a £10m player by the same fans.

From a birmingham fan: Butland's shown flashes of brilliance, but he's also shown flashes of ineptitude. He might eventually become as good as he's projected to be, but at this stage he's barely as good as Boaz Myhill.

I'm with you on your last bit, for me - he's one for the summer provided we stay up. What we need now is a 6month loan of someone like Given, Friedel, Steklenburg or the like. But as I said on another thread, the club obviously want him, and transfers are often dictated by the situation of the selling club. It could be that this window is the best opportunity for us to get him.

I hope our players don't lose their confidence and belief on the back of an opposition result, as much as some of our fans.